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As a series of raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sparked growing protests, the California National Guard began deploying in downtown Los Angeles early on the 8th. The deployment, personally ordered by President Trump without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom, marks a rare instance of federal intervention in local security matters in recent decades.

Trump's decision to send federally controlled National Guard troops into the nation's second-largest city triggered fierce backlash at the local level. Governor Newsom sharply criticized the move as “deliberate incitement,” accusing the president of disregarding states' rights and local autonomy, and of intentionally deepening social divisions.

According to the Associated Press, National Guard personnel have been stationed at the federal government complex in downtown Los Angeles, near several recent protest hotspots, including the Metropolitan Detention Center. In the past two days, protests and clashes involving hundreds have erupted throughout the city, with tensions running high in some areas.

Agence France-Presse reported that more protests are expected in Los Angeles. Organizers have called for a “mass mobilization” in front of City Hall at 2 p.m. on the 8th. Earlier that morning, in the Compton area, soldiers clad in combat gear and carrying automatic weapons were seen on the streets, with camouflaged military vehicles patrolling the area — a scene that many found shocking.

Trump had earlier announced plans to deploy around 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles, citing what he called the failure of Governor Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass to respond effectively to recent unrest. He emphasized that the federal government has a responsibility to "maintain order," though critics argue that this military intervention may further inflame social tensions and deepen public distrust.

On the evening of June 5, U.S. President Donald John Trump held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This marked their first direct conversation since Trump’s return to the White House. The discussion covered details of the U.S.-China trade agreement and rare earth exports, and both leaders extended invitations for state visits.

The call lasted approximately 90 minutes. Trump stated that the outcome of the discussion had a very positive impact on both countries, with the conversation focusing primarily on trade policy. Topics such as the Russia-Ukraine war and Iran were not discussed. He also noted that U.S. and Chinese trade representatives would meet again, aiming to break the stalemate over tariffs and global rare earth supply issues, though the meeting location has yet to be determined.

Chinese state media reported that after the call, the U.S. should acknowledge progress in trade negotiations and welcome Chinese students to study in the U.S. while lifting negative measures against China. During the call, President Xi emphasized that the U.S. should handle the Taiwan issue with caution to avoid a small number of individuals pushing the two countries into a dangerous confrontation. In response, Trump reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the One-China policy, suggesting that a preliminary consensus was reached on sensitive topics.

Although Trump claimed that the trade talks with China were progressing smoothly, the statements issued by both sides after the call seemed like they came from parallel worlds, highlighting the lack of substantial progress in the negotiations. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a U.S. think tank, commented that the call merely paused the escalation of the trade war without addressing the core tensions in the bilateral relationship. Analysts pointed out that U.S.-China negotiations have gradually shifted from tariff issues to technology exports and rare earth supply. The ongoing global concern over rare earth shortages could, if it worsens, lead to production halts in the automotive and related industries, increasing risks to the global supply chain.

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has released the latest data showing that the number of newborns in the country in 2024 was only 686,061—a sharp decrease of 41,227 compared to 2023. This is the first time the number has fallen below 700,000 since records began in 1899, marking the lowest figure ever recorded. The decline in births was observed across all prefectures in Japan.

As for the total fertility rate, it stood at 1.15 in 2024, down by 0.05 points from 2023, also setting a new record low since statistics began in 1947. Tokyo recorded the lowest fertility rate at 0.96, remaining below 1 for the second consecutive year, followed by Miyagi Prefecture (1.00) and Hokkaido (1.01). Okinawa had the highest fertility rate at 1.54, followed by Fukui (1.46), and Tottori, Shimane, and Miyazaki Prefectures, all at 1.43.

The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research had projected in 2022 that Japan’s annual births would not fall to the 680,000 range until 2039. The reality has arrived approximately 15 years ahead of that forecast. The continued decline in the birth rate has once again raised serious concerns about the future of Japan’s social security system. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare attributes the drop in newborns primarily to the decreasing young population, as well as trends of later marriage and childbirth.

South Korea welcomed its new president, Lee Jae-myung, on June 4. He pledged to lead the country out of political turmoil and emergency rule, and to revitalize the economy, which has been hurt by slowing growth and rising global protectionism. Experts say South Korea’s foreign policy may undergo significant changes under his leadership.

The presidential by-election was officially held in the early hours of June 3, marking the end of a 171-day political vacuum since former President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached in December last year. The election, held nearly two years ahead of schedule, featured five candidates. Of the approximately 44.39 million eligible voters nationwide, 35% had already cast their ballots through early absentee voting.

According to foreign media reports, the final tally announced by South Korea’s National Election Commission showed that opposition Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung won with 49.42% of the nearly 35 million votes, defeating ruling People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.15%. Voter turnout reached 79.4%, the highest in a presidential election since 1997.

Under South Korea’s Public Official Election Act, if a presidential election is held due to a vacancy in office, the elected candidate assumes office immediately upon confirmation. Accordingly, Lee's five-year term officially began in the early morning of June 4.

The results of Poland’s presidential runoff were announced on June 2nd, with conservative nationalist candidate **Nawrocki** narrowly winning the election with **50.89% of the vote**. His victory signals a possible strengthening of Poland’s ties with the Trump administration and a shift toward nationalist policies, posing a challenge to pro-EU forces.

At 42 years old, Nawrocki had trailed Civic Coalition candidate **Zosaszkowski** in the first round of voting on May 18th, but managed a comeback in the runoff. Zosaszkowski ultimately lost with **49.11% of the vote**.

Nawrocki’s campaign focused on themes of patriotism, traditional Catholic values, and a strong defense of Polish sovereignty against the influence of major EU member states. His win is expected to energize right-wing populist movements across Europe and could impact Poland’s military cooperation with the United States. Some members of parliament have accused the Trump administration of interfering in the election.

While Nawrocki has pledged continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, he has also criticized the government’s welfare policies for Ukrainian refugees, insisting that social benefits should primarily support Polish citizens.

Nawrocki is expected to continue the conservative policies of outgoing President Andrzej Duda, including opposition to abortion legalization and controversial judicial reforms. He will take office on **August 6**, and his presidency may strain Poland’s relationship with the European Union while further aligning the country with the Trump administration.

European Commission President **Ursula von der Leyen** and Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelensky** expressed hope for continued cooperation with Poland, while nationalist leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister **Viktor Orbán** congratulated Nawrocki on his victory.

The UK-based authoritative research institute **Oxford Economics** recently released its **2025 Global Cities Report**, ranking 1,000 major cities worldwide. New York, London, and Paris once again claimed the top three positions. Among Asian cities, seven made it into the top 100, with **Taipei ranked 60th**, climbing five spots from last year—an indication of its steadily improving urban competitiveness.

According to the report, the top ten cities are: **New York**, **London**, **Paris**, **San Jose**, **Seattle**, **Melbourne**, **Sydney**, **Boston**, **Tokyo**, and **San Francisco**. The rankings are based on five key dimensions: **Economy**, **Human Capital**, **Quality of Life**, **Environment**, and **Governance**, with each category scored out of 100 points.

Taipei received the following scores:

* Economy: **50.0**
* Human Capital: **67.7**
* Quality of Life: **90.4**
* Environment: **72.2**
* Governance: **88.1**
Taipei’s **overall average score was 75.0**, securing the **60th position**, a notable improvement from **65th place last year**. Notably, Taipei's scores in **Quality of Life** and **Governance** even surpassed those of **New York**, the top-ranked city.

A total of **seven Asian cities (excluding the Middle East)** entered the top 100, namely:

* **Tokyo (9th)**
* **Seoul (15th)**
* **Singapore (21st)**
* **Taipei (60th)**
* **Hong Kong (72nd)**
* **Kuala Lumpur (79th)**
* **Osaka–Kyoto (100th)**

However, due to the high weighting of economic scale and high-tech talent in the evaluation, **cities in North America and Western Europe continue to dominate** the top 100.

New York maintains its top spot with **a perfect score in the Economy category**, thanks to its leading roles in global finance, technology, advertising, and media, backed by its massive economic scale and robust performance. London and Paris ranked 8th and 11th respectively in the Economy category. **London** stands out in **Human Capital**, with numerous world-class universities, multinational headquarters, and a diverse workforce. **Paris**, on the other hand, relies on its **service and tourism industries** to sustain stable economic growth.

On May 30, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to revoke temporary legal status granted to over 500,000 immigrants during the Biden administration. This decision reinforces the Court's support for Trump’s hardline immigration policies, although several justices expressed reservations about the manner of implementation.

According to international media reports, during his presidency, Joe Biden introduced a humanitarian parole program for citizens of Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. Known as the CHNV program, it allowed a total of 30,000 people from these four countries to enter the U.S. each month for a period of two years, provided they passed security checks and had U.S.-based sponsors offering financial support. The Biden administration implemented this program as part of its efforts to reduce illegal border crossings from these countries.

On his first day in office, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to terminate the program. In March, DHS announced the program’s termination. However, in early April, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts ordered a temporary halt to Trump’s executive action. The Trump administration then filed an emergency appeal with the Supreme Court, which on May 30 overturned the lower court's decision, enabling Trump to revoke the temporary legal status of migrants from the four countries.

Earlier in May, the Supreme Court had already agreed to allow the Trump administration to end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans living and working in the U.S.

Out of the nine justices, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. In her dissent, Justice Jackson wrote that the Court’s decision would “throw the lives of 500,000 people around us into chaos before their legal claims can be fully resolved.” Several immigrant rights groups and affected migrants have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing that deportation would expose them to "serious danger, persecution, or even death."

For decades, the U.S. has used humanitarian visa programs to admit immigrants fleeing war and turmoil, including Cubans in the 1960s. The Biden administration also launched a similar program in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

During his campaign, Trump pledged to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. In March of this year, he cited the 1798 "Alien Enemies Act" to deport Venezuelan gang members, sending them to a prison in El Salvador. The last time the U.S. invoked the Alien Enemies Act was during World War II, when it was used to detain and deport individuals of Japanese, German, and Italian descent.

Massive wildfires have once again broken out in western Canada. As the fires spread rapidly, authorities have declared national-level states of emergency in the provinces of **Manitoba** and **Saskatchewan**. The government has deployed military forces to assist with disaster relief and ordered urgent evacuations, with approximately **20,000 residents forced to flee their homes**.

The dense smoke from the wildfires has even drifted across the border into multiple areas of the **United States**, raising widespread concern.

The wildfire season in Canada typically runs from **May to September**, and this year the fires began in **Saskatchewan** and have since spread into **Manitoba**. So far, **158 wildfires** have been reported nationwide, **83 of which are currently out of control**. In Manitoba alone, **22 wildfires remain uncontained**. To date, more than **490,000 acres (approximately 200,000 hectares)** of land have been burned across the country. The situation is significantly more severe than the five-year average for the same period.

With temperatures continuing to rise and no rain in the forecast, experts warn the fires could worsen further.

Meteorological agencies predict that smoke from the wildfires will begin affecting parts of the **U.S.**, including **Minnesota** and **Chicago, Illinois**, starting **May 30**. Air quality alerts have already been issued in these regions.

Experts are also warning that strong winds and dry conditions will make it extremely difficult to contain the fires in the short term. Residents are urged to stay informed of the latest alerts and evacuation notices.

U.S. President Donald Trump on the 27th once again took aim at Harvard University, announcing the cancellation of 30 cooperative programs with a total budget of \$100 million. Hundreds of students staged protests on campus, opposing Trump’s restrictions on international students and the defunding of Harvard.

The General Services Administration (GSA), which oversees federal government contracts, determined that Harvard engaged in discriminatory admissions and hiring practices and failed to protect Jewish students from harassment. The GSA has ordered federal agencies to review their research and training collaborations with Harvard, with the estimated impact reaching \$100 million. According to the Associated Press, Harvard has already lost over \$2.6 billion in federal funding for refusing to comply with several of Trump’s policies. Trump has also revoked Harvard’s tax-exempt status, banned it from admitting international students, and required foreign students to transfer elsewhere. A judge has temporarily halted the enforcement of this ban, with a hearing scheduled for May 29 — which coincides with Harvard’s commencement ceremony.

During the protests, students held signs reading “Trump = Traitor” and “Let those who belong in the classroom stay,” condemning Trump for forcing Harvard to submit to government oversight of students. International students expressed anxiety about their uncertain futures, while professors voiced concern that the situation would discourage top scholars from coming to the U.S. Harvard has filed a lawsuit, accusing the government of violating due process and infringing on the university’s constitutional right to free speech.

In a previous interview, Trump claimed that a significant portion of Harvard’s federal funding — spent on foreign students who make up around 30% of the student body — amounted to exploiting the U.S., and he threatened further budget cuts, suggesting the funds be redirected to vocational schools across the country. On the 28th, Trump again asserted that the appropriate cap for international students at Harvard should be 15%.

Seizing the opportunity, Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced plans to welcome affected Harvard students to the University of Tokyo. Meanwhile, universities in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau also reached out to this group of students.

On May 25 (EST), former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a strong condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin on his social media platform, Truth Social, in response to Russia’s large-scale airstrikes against Ukraine. Trump described Putin as having "gone completely insane."

These attacks marked the most extensive aerial assault Russia has launched against Ukraine in the past three years.

According to Ukrainian official statistics, from May 23 to 25, Russian forces carried out airstrikes on Ukraine for three consecutive nights, resulting in at least 29 deaths and dozens of injuries. The attacks on May 24 and 25 were the most massive to date, with record-high numbers of drones and missiles deployed.

Foreign media reported that Trump, despite previously having a good relationship with Putin, said the Russian leader's recent actions were "completely irrational" and that he had "lost total control." He criticized the indiscriminate drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, which have led to significant civilian casualties. "He's killing a lot of people for no reason, and I’m not just talking about soldiers," Trump stated. He also revealed that he is "definitely considering" a new round of sanctions against Russia, despite his past reservations about imposing sanctions.

However, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his May 25 public remarks accusing the U.S. of "silence" that emboldened Russia’s aggression. Trump called Zelenskyy’s comments "unhelpful to Ukraine" and even said they were "creating more problems."

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on May 26 that Trump’s comments were an "emotional reaction," but added that Russia still appreciates Trump’s past efforts to promote Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

On the same day, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in an interview with the German public broadcaster ARD, said the war could last longer than expected and called on the U.S. to maintain its support for Ukraine. He noted, "Trump is clearly becoming increasingly frustrated with Putin over the massive weekend attacks on Kyiv and other cities."